Her newfound interest led her then to embark on a ten-year project, which eventually culminated in a book that was published this spring, "Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women."

In it, Goldin says that various "subrevolutions" in the early part of the 20th century--better and more accessible education, plus a shift toward a more white collar and service-oriented economy--paved the way for the larger female work force later.

Just as Goldin has not limited her scholarly attention to the exact same field over the years, she says she has not limited her perspective to any specific ideology. She says that she is "out to learn," rather than "out to make a point." She cites as an example her dissertation, in which she challenged a widely accepted notion that slavery and industrialization are incompatible.

Still, Goldin admits that studying economics has forced her to become more conservative. Although she says her mother would only vote for candidates from liberal parties, she says her studies have led her to "question the precepts of liberal ideology, which is send the government in all the time."

Goldin says that the figures who most influenced her were older economists like former Cornell professor Alfred E. Kahn and Bob Fogel, who taught her at Chicago. But even though she had no women role models, she says she hopes future generations have it different.

"It may be that because that was the way I viewed the world, I didn't see a lot of things," she says.

And Goldin, who this spring will teach "American Economic History," says she will not shy away from assuming such a role. Already, she says, she is planning a meeting with the recently formed undergraduate group Women in Economics, which was formed last spring in an attempt to provide a support group for undergraduates in the field.

Says Goldin, "If my presence here serves as a role model, I'll be very happy."